Package for Information Carriers

ABSTRACT

A package for at least one information carrier with an outside contour and a central opening, provided with a bearing surface on which a contour edge is provided and a retaining device, the retaining device comprising an edge which, during use, extends along the inside of the central opening of an information carrier and bears a first projection which lies at a distance from said bearing surface and can engage, at least partly, a top side of an information carrier, the retaining device further comprising a resilient element which is connected to the bearing surface and/or the edge and bears a second projection which lies at a distance from said bearing surface and can engage, at least partly, a top side of an information carrier, the arrangement being such that through elastic deformation of the resilient element, the second projection can be moved in the direction of the first projection for releasing the information carrier.

The invention relates to a package for at least one information carrier, in particular plate-shaped information carriers with a central opening such as CDs or DVDs.

As a rule, CDs and DVDs are packaged in boxes specially developed to that end. Such a package is for instance known from practice as Jewel case. Such a package consists of two hingedly connected cover parts, while one of cover parts is provided with an inlay on which retaining means for a CD or DVD are provided. These retaining means, usually indicated as hub, comprise a rosette of resilient fingers which are biased outwardly and jointly form a circle which can abut in a clamping manner against the inside of the central opening of a CD or DVD.

With this known package, each segment is connected, via a resilient part, to a bearing surface of the inlay, formed by radial incisions in this bearing surface. Each segment further comprises an upstanding wall part which, one the one side, is connected to the resilient part and, on the other side, to a pressure surface which extends approximately parallel to the bearing surface and is directed towards the middle of the rosette. The upstanding wall parts jointly form a cylindrical, conical surface widening slightly outwards, with a cross-section that is slightly larger than the cross-section of the central opening of a CD or DVD. When pressing a CD or DVD on the hub, these wall parts are pressed inwards, while deforming elastically so that a clamping force is obtained and the CD or DVD is locked. The resilient elements are formed such that by pressing the top side on the pressure surfaces, the wall parts are pressed inwards so that the clamping force is removed and the CD or DVD can be taken from the hub.

This package has as a drawback that a clamping force is continually applied to the CD or DVD and that, when taking out the CD or DVD, stresses are generated therein. This may lead to formation of tears in the CD or DVD and even to breakage thereof. Moreover, the resilient fingers can become damaged easily and break loose, so that the CD or DVD can no longer be properly retained.

The object of the invention is to provide a package for at least one CD or DVD, wherein the drawbacks mentioned and other drawbacks of the known packages are at least partly avoided.

In particular, the invention contemplates providing such a package wherein an information carrier such as a CD or DVD can be fixed virtually without radial forces being applied to the information carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a package wherein the information carrier can only be taken from the package in a controlled and predetermined manner, while virtually no stresses are generated in the information carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a package which can be manufactured particularly simply and inexpensively.

At least a number of these and further objects are achieved with a package according to the invention.

With a package according to the invention, an information carrier is retained on a retaining device by two projections engaging substantially the top side of the information carrier, adjacent the longitudinal edge of the central opening. One edge of the retaining device extends along this longitudinal edge of the central opening, so that displacement of the information carrier is prevented in all directions. Preferably, the resilient element is then designed and dimensioned such that it virtually does not press against this longitudinal edge in radial direction. As a result, stresses in the information carrier are optimally prevented.

For releasing an information carrier from the retaining device, the resilient element is pushed in such that it moves the second projection towards the first projection. As a result, the distance between the free longitudinal edges of the first and second projection is reduced such that the information carrier can be taken from the retaining device in a simple manner.

It is preferred that the first and second projection are located approximately opposite each other and extend in opposite directions. As a result thereof, displacement of the first and second projection relative to each other is obtained in an optimal manner.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, a package according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 3.

With such an embodiment, the take out opening defines a take out position which is optimally positioned relative to the projections, in particular the first projection.

In a particularly advantageous further embodiment, the contour edge is formed and dimensioned such that an information carrier which is fixed on the retaining device is surrounded thereby such that it can only be engaged in the take out opening. As a result, taking out the information carrier in an optimal take out position is ensured even better. The fact is that then, the information carrier can only be engaged in the take out opening and the central opening after the resilient element is deformed such that the information carrier can pass the second projection. Then, it can be pulled away under the first projection.

With circular information carriers having a circular central opening, the retaining means preferably comprise an edge which, in top plan view, includes a segment of a circle having adjacent its center the first projection. Preferably, the segment of a circle includes a relatively large angle, in particular an angle of more than 180°, while, preferably, the first projection has a relatively small width such that it includes an angle which is, for instance, smaller than 60°, preferably at most 45°. As a result of the relatively large angle included by the segment of the circle, the information carrier is locked well against displacement approximately parallel to the bearing surface while the relatively small angle included by the first projection simplifies taking the information carrier out. For the same reason, it is preferred that the second projection also has a relatively small width. The resilient element is preferably connected to the bearing surface in a recess in the edge of the retaining device. As a result, the resilient element too can help lock the information carrier against displacement approximately parallel to the bearing surface.

It is preferred that on the bearing surface adjacent the contour edge and/or adjacent the retaining device, one or more elevations are provided for bearing the information carrier or parts thereof on which no information has been provided such that the parts of the information carrier on which information has been provided are kept at a distance from the bearing surface.

Preferably, the contour edge is placed and dimensioned such that during use, it extends at a relatively small distance from the outside contour of the information carrier. Here, relatively small distance is understood to mean that a finger of a user cannot be inserted between the information carrier and the contour edge without straining. In particular, small distance is understood to mean a distance in the order of the thickness of the information carrier, for instance less than 2 mm.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a package according to the invention is characterized by the features of claim 11.

Such a package is particularly simple in manufacture and use.

In particular, such a package is characterized by the features of claim 12.

As the first and second projection are in one line, which preferably also extends through a take out opening in the contour edge, which line includes an angle with the sides of the respective cover part, additional space is obtained for taking out and placing the information carrier in a simple manner. Here, the included angle is preferably between 30° and 60°, more in particular approximately 45°, so that the space of the respective cover part is optimally utilized. It will, for that matter, be clear that positioning can, each time, be chosen depending on the dimensions of the respective cover part.

With a package according to the invention, preferably, cover parts are provided, each with an upstanding longitudinal edge, which longitudinal edges are located next to each other with the packaged closed. It is preferred that here, on the bearing surface between the contour edge and such an upstanding edge, at least one connecting wall is provided, while the upstanding longitudinal edge of the other cover part is provided with a recess which, when the package is closed, falls over the connecting wall, preferably in a form-locking manner. As a result, a particularly good closure of the package is obtained while displacement of the cover parts relative to each other is prevented even better by this connecting wall and recess.

The bearing surface of a package according to the invention can form part of an inlay which can be laid loose in a package or can be fixed therein, but the bearing surface with retaining device and contour edge can also form part of an integral package, preferably injection molded from plastic in one piece.

The invention further relates to a package according to the invention and a plate-shaped information carrier with central opening such as a CD or DVD.

In clarification of the invention, exemplary embodiments of a package and assembly according to the invention will be further elucidated with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a package according to the invention in open condition, in top plan view;

FIG. 2 shows the package according to FIG. 1, in side view;

FIG. 3 shows an elevational view of a package according to FIGS. 1 and 2, cross-sectioned along the line III-III in FIG. 1, with an information carrier therein;

FIG. 4 shows a part of the cross-section according to FIG. 3, in a releasing position; and

FIG. 5 shows in perspective elevational view a retaining device for a package according to the invention.

In the following description and the drawings, only exemplary embodiments of a package according to the invention are shown. The invention is not limited in any manner to these embodiments, many variations thereon are understood to fall within the framework of the invention as outlined by the claims. In the exemplary embodiments shown, identical or corresponding parts have identical or corresponding reference numerals. In this description, terms such as substantially, virtually and the like are understood to include small deviations from the values given, at least deviations upto 10% from the values mentioned are to be included herein too. Furthermore, also the values, which, functionally, lead to the same effect, are understood to be included therein.

In the drawing, an exemplary embodiment of a package 1 according to the invention is shown, in the form of a one-piece injection molded product manufactured from plastic. However, such a package can also, simply, be of different design, for instance as a Jewel-case type package, wherein the bearing surface with the contour ring and retaining device are used as inlay instead of the inlay customary for a Jewel-case, as will be further described hereinafter. A contour ring and a retaining device according to the invention can also be provided on different sorts of packages, for instance on a cardboard or plastic carrier, suitable for use in, for instance, a ring binder or other types of systems.

In FIG. 1, an open package 1 according to the invention is shown, in top plan view, comprising a first cover part 2 and a second cover part 3 which is connected to the first cover part 2 via a living hinge 4. The two cover parts 2, 3 have a substantially rectangular form, for instance with outside dimensions which correspond to a standard DVD box and, in closed condition, a thickness D of 5 mm or less. However, thickness D can each time be selected at wish, as can the other outside dimensions, depending on, for instance, the number of storage positions for information carriers within, system sizes of storage systems therefor and the like.

The first cover part 2 comprises a bearing surface 5 in the form of a bottom of the respective cover part 2, on which bearing surface 5 a contour edge 6 and a retaining device 7 are formed. In FIG. 1, the retaining device 7 is represented in a rather large manner for the sake of simplification. As will be described further, the contour edge and the retaining device 7 are dimensioned such that a standard CD or DVD fits therein. Naturally, the dimensions thereof can be adapted to information carriers with other sizes.

In the elaboration shown, the contour edge 6 is a substantially circular edge raised from the bearing surface 5 which, on the side of the retaining device 7 facing the center C, comprises a flat inside wall 8 and, at the outside, declines in a slightly convex manner in the direction of the bearing surface 5. At the bottom side, a recess 9 is provided so that the wall thickness of the entire package is approximately equal all over. Within the contour edge 6, a circular elevation 10 is provided having, relative to the height D, a particularly small height, for instance some tenths of millimeters and a width W which, relative to the centerline of the wall 8, is small, for instance approximately 1 mm, such that an outside edge of the information carrier, such as a CD or DVD can rest thereon with a part on which no optically readable information has been provided, as shown in FIG. 3. In the contour edge 6 a take out opening 11 is provided, by locally depressing or omitting the contour edge 6, which take out opening 11, viewed in the circumferential direction, has a width A large enough for a finger of an adult hand to be comfortably inserted therein. The take out opening 11 is arranged such that the side 12 of an information carrier 13 can be engaged therein.

The retaining device 7 comprises a cylindrical wall 14 which extends away from the bearing surface 5 and is formed concentrically relative to the contour edge 6. The edge 14 includes a segment of a circle with a relatively large angle, in the exemplary embodiment shown the angle β of, for instance, approximately 225°. Preferably, the angle β is selected to be relatively large, for instance at least larger than 60°, more in particular more than 120° and preferably at least 180°. The outside diameter R_(B) of the wall 14 virtually corresponds to the diameter of the central opening X of an information carrier 13, preferably such that the information carrier 13 can be slid with the central opening X over the wall 14 without friction and with particularly little radial clearance, for instance less than 1, more in particular less than 0.5 mm. Around the wall 14, a second, circular elevation 15 extends above the bearing surface 5 with a height equal to that of the edge 10 and a diameter such that the information carrier 13 can rest thereon with a part which has not been provided with optically readable information around the central opening. Between the two ends 16 of the wall 14, an opening 17 is provided in which a resilient element 18 is arranged. This resilient element 18 comprises a wall part 19 which, by the lower side, is connected via an elastically deformable connection 20 to the bearing surface 5 and, at the opposite side, is connected to a pressure surface 21 which extends approximately parallel to the bearing surface 5 such that the top side of the pressure surface 21 is approximately flush which the top side of the edge 14 (FIG. 3). The wall part 19 and the pressure surface 21 are interconnected by stiffening ribs 22, so that these two parts are held at a fixed mutual angle, in particular an angle of approximately 90°.

At the outside facing the contour edge 6, the wall 14 is provided with a first projection 23, the resilient element 18 adjacent the transition of the wall part 19 and the pressure surface 21 with a second projection 24. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first projection 23 and the second projection 24 lie diametrically opposite each other and preferably on a line L through the center C and approximately through the middle of the take out opening 11. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the line L includes an angle φ with the hinge line 4 such that the line L approximately follows the diagonal of the cover surface 2. Along the cover surface 2, an upstanding longitudinal wall 25 extends. As a result of the angle φ, relatively much space is obtained for inserting a finger into the take out opening, within the edge 25.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first projection 23 and the second projection 24 have a somewhat triangular shape in side view, and lie at a height D₂ above the bearing surface 5, at least above the elevations 10, 15, which distance D₂ approximately corresponds to the thickness D₁ of the information carrier 13. As appears from FIG. 3, in a locking position, which is a neutral position, the first projection 23 and the second projection 24 abut against the top side of the edge of the central opening X of the information carrier 13 such that the information carrier 13 is locked within the contour edge 6 and is retained by the retaining device 7, virtually stress free. In this condition, the package 1 can be closed by pivoting the second cover part 3 along the hinge means 4 against the first cover part 2. The second cover part 3 is also provided with an upstanding longitudinal wall 26 which is offset slightly inwards relative to the longitudinal wall 25 such that in closed condition, the longitudinal wall 26 of the second cover part 3 abuts against the inside of the longitudinal wall 25 of the first cover part 2. Adjacent the middle of the longitudinal sides 27, 28 of the two cover parts 2, 3, the wall 25, 26, respectively, is offset inwards in a slightly curved manner, so that engaging surfaces 29 are obtained for opening the package 1 in a simple manner. On the first cover part 2, between the contour edge 6 and the inwardly offset part 30 of the wall 25, a connecting wall 31 is provided. The inwardly offset part 30A of the wall 26 is provided with a recess 32 which, when the package 1 is closed, lies fittingly over the connecting wall 31, while the part 30A is locked between the inwardly offset part 30 and the contour edge 6. As a result, in the closed condition, the cover parts 2, 3 cannot move relative to each other. At the edge 27, the wall 25 is provided on the inside with two projections 33 which, with the package closed, can engage in corresponding recesses 34 in the wall 26 of the second cover part 3. As a result, the package is retained in the closed condition. Resilient fingers 35 can be provided in the first cover part 3 for retaining, for instance, booklets and the like in a manner known per se. As clearly appears from FIG. 3, the information carrier 13 is relatively tightly enclosed by the wall 8 such that therebetween, there is little clearance. For instance less than 2 mm, more in particular for instance approximately 1 mm or less. The height D₃ of the contour edge 6 above the bearing surface 5 is such that, preferably, the top side of the contour edge 6 extends above the information carrier 13 fixed on the retaining means 7. Thus, it is ensured that the information carrier 13 can only be engaged through the take out opening 11.

As appears from FIG. 1, the first projection 23 has, in circumferential direction of the wall 14, a length L₁ which is relatively small. The first projection 23 includes an angle α, from the center C, which is relatively small, for instance smaller than 90°, more in particular smaller than 60° and preferably at most approximately 45°. The second projection 24 includes an angle γ which is approximately equal to the angle α, at least in the same order of magnitude. The first projection 23 and the second projection 24 extend outside the longitudinal edge 14 so far that their free edges at least abut on the top side of the information carrier 13, at least in the opening X.

A package 1 according to the invention can be used as follows. An information carrier 13 can be pressed over the retaining means 7, while the second projection 24 is elastically pressed away and springs back when the information carrier 13 rests on the elevations 10, 15. Then, the information carrier 13 is retained by the projections 23, 24, while displacement is prevented by the wall 14 and/or the wall 8. Thereupon, the package 1 can be closed, as shown in FIG. 3, wherein the second cover part 3 is drawn in interrupted lines.

For taking out the information carrier 13, the package 1 is opened and a finger (for instance an index finger or thumb) presses on the pressure surface 21 of the resilient element 18. This resilient element 18 is thus pressed into the opening 40 within the wall 14, as shown in FIG. 4. It is clear that consequently, the distance R_(K) between the free longitudinal edges of the first projection 23 and the second projection 24 has become relatively small, smaller than the diameter of the opening X of the information carrier. At the same time, in the take out opening 11, the longitudinal edge of the information carrier 13 can be engaged, for instance with a thumb or index finger, so that the information carrier 13 can be flipped up and can be taken out, clamped between the outside contour and a finger in the central opening X. The resilient element 7 then springs back to the initial position.

FIG. 5 shows in perspective view a retaining device 7 according to the invention, wherein the edge 14 with the resilient element 18 therein is clearly visible, as well as the projections 23 and 24. Ridges 41 have been provided on the pressure surface 21, so that the grip is improved. The opening 40 offers the resilient element 18 sufficient space to move as far as the bottom side of the bearing surface as shown in FIG. 4, or beyond that, if so desired.

The invention is not limited in any manner to the exemplary embodiments represented in the drawing and the description. Many variations thereon are possible within the framework of the invention as outlined by the claims. For instance, the resilient element can comprise two wall parts 19, one on each side of the opening 40 such that the two projections are provided thereon and that through bending of the pressure surface the projections are pulled from the information carrier. The line L may extend in any desired direction and several retaining devices and contour edges may be provided, for instance one on each cover part. The cover parts can be connected to each other in any manner or can be placed, separately, onto each other. Moreover, the bottom surface with the retaining device and/or contour edge can also be provided on a different basis, for instance paper or cardboard or on a plastic plate or the like. Although the use of a contour edge is preferred, a fixing device according to the invention without one could also be used, while, also, several take out openings could be provided. However, the use of two projections lying diametrically opposite each other in line with a take out opening is preferred. All sorts of other closing mechanisms can be used with the package according to the invention, while the closing mechanism shown can also be used with other packages. A package according to the invention is preferably injection molded in one piece from plastic such as PE, PET, PP or the like, but also other materials and/or manufacturing techniques can be used to that end.

These and many comparable variations are understood to fall within the framework of the invention as outlined by the claims. 

1. A package for at least one information carrier with an outside contour and a central opening, such as a CD or DVD, provided with a bearing surface on which a contour edge is provided and a retaining device for engagement in the central opening of the information carrier, wherein the retaining device comprises an edge which, during use, extends along the inside of the central opening of an information carrier and bears a first projection which lies at a distance from said bearing surface and can engage, at least partly, a top side of an information carrier, the retaining device further comprising a resilient element which is connected to the bearing surface and/or the edge and bears a second projection which lies at a distance from said bearing surface and can engage, at least partly, a top side of an information carrier, the arrangement being such that through elastic deformation of the resilient element, the second projection can be moved in the direction of the first projection for releasing the information carrier.
 2. A package according to claim 1, wherein the first and second projection lie approximately opposite each other and extend in opposite directions.
 3. A package according to claim 1, wherein at least one first projection and one second projection are provided, which are located diametrically opposite each other, while said contour edge extends along the entire circumference of a take out position for the information carrier and is provided with a take out opening formed by a depression of the contour edge and/or interruption of the contour edge, which take out opening is in one line with the first and second projection, on the side of the second projection.
 4. A package according to claim 3, wherein a contour edge is formed and dimensioned such that an information carrier placed on the retaining device is enclosed by the contour edge and can only be engaged in said take out opening.
 5. A package according to claim 1, wherein, in top plan view, approximately at right angles to said bearing surface, said edge of the retaining device includes a segment of a circle and extends approximately at right angles to said bearing surface, while said segment of a circle includes an angle of at least 60°, in particular more than 120°, more in particular at least 180° and preferably at least 225°, while the first projection extends preferably adjacent a center of said segment of a circle, the first projection having a width, measured along said edge such that it includes an angle of less than 90°, more in particular less than 60° and preferably at most 45°.
 6. A package according to claim 1, wherein said resilient element is connected via a resilient wall part to the bearing surface, which resilient wall part is provided, opposite the bearing surface, with a pressure surface which extends substantially within the edge, preferably approximately parallel to the bearing surface, while the second projection is provided adjacent the transition of the resilient wall part and the pressure surface.
 7. A package according to claim 1, wherein the second projection has a width such that it includes an angle of less than 90 degrees, more in particular less than 60 degrees and preferably, at most, 45 degrees, measured from a center of said retaining device.
 8. A package according to claim 1, wherein the resilient element is connected to the bearing surface in a recess in the edge.
 9. A package according to claim 1, wherein on the bearing surface adjacent said contour edge and/or adjacent said retaining device, one or more elevations are provided for bearing an information carrier such that surfaces of the information carrier provided with information are kept at a distance from the bearing surface.
 10. A package according to claim 1, wherein the contour edge is placed and dimensioned such that during use, it extends at a relatively small distance from the outside contour of the information carrier.
 11. A package according to claim 1, wherein the bearing surface is provided as a bottom surface of a first cover part of a storage box, which first cover part is connected, via hinges, to a second cover part such that the cover parts can be closed over and/or against each other while enclosing an information carrier on the retaining device, while the package is preferably manufactured in one piece from plastic by injection molding.
 12. A package according to claim 11, wherein the first cover part is substantially rectangular and, on a first side, is connected to the hinge means, while the first and second projection are located in one line which includes an angle deviating from 90 degrees with the sides of said first cover part, preferably an angle between 30 and 60 degrees, more in particular approximately 45 degrees.
 13. A package according to claim 11, wherein each of the cover parts is provided with an upstanding longitudinal edge, while on the bearing surface between the contour edge and said upstanding edge at least one connecting wall is provided, the upstanding longitudinal edge of the second cover part being provided with a recess which, when the package is closed, falls over said connecting wall, preferably in a form-locking manner.
 14. A package according to claim 1, wherein said bearing surface forms part of an inlay.
 15. An assembly of a package according to claim 1 and a plate-shaped information carrier such as a CD or DVD. 